Sure, they may not be the flashiest, or the prettiest, or the newest, but they do do the actual one thing you need a car to do: they get you from point A to point B. Safely, we might add.
Once you’ve established yourself as a responsible and respectable driver, you can go all out on bells and whistles. Until then, it’s probably best that you stick to these cars.
Honda Civic
She’s compact, she’s cool, she’s easy on the wallet. The Honda Civic is well-known for being a smooth and comfortable drive, with low insurance and maintenance fees.
Most newer vehicles come equipped with driver-assisted technologies, such as lane assist, an emergency braking system, and a road departure mitigation system, which will keep new drivers focused and alert on the road ahead.
Furthermore, Civics constantly get high marks in crash test performances. The nonprofit company, Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), named the 2025 Civic one of its Top Safety Pick+ last year, solidifying the vehicle as a leader in safety standards.
Toyota Corolla
The Corolla is well-known for its affordability and fuel efficiency, making it an excellent first choice for new drivers. The car also comes with a plethora of safety features, such as pedestrian detection, road sign assist, and a blind spot monitor.
What makes the Corolla so attractive is the price. A Corolla base price is under 30,000, or less if you buy one used.
The Corolla didn’t win an IIHS safety pick this year, but was still rated highly for its various safety features.
Kia K4
Hyundai Motor Group on Unsplash
The first SUV on this list, the Kia K4, gives your new driver just a little bit more space - if you go for a hatchback that is. It’s also considered quite affordable, around 20,000 for a base model.
The K4 is also packed full of safety features, including lane keeping assist, forward collision-avoidance, and a blind spot warning, among others.
Carbuzz also believes this vehicle to be quite reliable, estimating that you’ll drop around $6,000 in maintenance costs over 10 years. Not bad, all things considered.
Mazda CX-30
This model is on the slightly pricer side, but maintains its reputation as a first-driver-friendly vehicle for safety and reliability.
The Mazda has all your standard safety features: smart brake support, blind spot monitoring, and a lane departure warning system, just to name a few. It has also won a Top Safety Pick+ by the IIHS, as of 2021.
A 2026 base Mazda model will run you around $30,000.
Hyundai Elantra
Another Top Safety Pick+ of 2025, the Elantra earned high marks in driver and passenger safety evaluations, making it an excellent choice for new drivers.
In terms of safety features, the newer Elantras come equipped with collision avoidance, lane keeping, and blind-spot collision avoidance assist.
The price doesn’t hurt either. A base price for a 2026 Hyundai Elantra starts around $20,000, making it a cost-effective choice for the first-time driver.
